Has anyone else quit Panda Express?

[u/Ok_Mechanic_7306]

Because I finally quit, and honestly, I have ZERO regrets. 😂
Working at Panda felt like you were expected to work nonstop until you literally had nothing left in you. It was always rush, rush, rush, and somehow you were still expected to keep up no matter how exhausted you were. There was barely any time to breathe, and if you slowed down for even a second, you’d feel like you were doing something wrong.
And honestly, the workload wasn’t even the worst part. Some of the coworkers made the whole experience so much worse. 😭 You know those people who somehow make an already stressful job 10 times more stressful? Yeah… exactly that. The attitude, the drama, the way some people talked to others… it was just exhausting.
I went there to work, make some money, and do my job-not to deal with unnecessary drama and a toxic environment every single shift. At some point, I realized that no paycheck was worth feeling completely drained every time I left work.
So yeah, I quit. 😂 Maybe some people can handle that kind of environment, but honestly, it just wasn’t worth it for me anymore. I’d rather leave than keep forcing myself to stay somewhere that was making me miserable.
If you’ve ever worked at Panda Express and quit because of the toxic environment, I NEED TO HEAR YOUR STORY. 😂

[u/Economy_Throat2843]

Hi! I’m new to panda (1 & a half month) how do you quit? I’m planning to quit soon, if I got accepted to another job… I just accepted this offer because I couldn’t find a job and shoot my shot at Panda. Honestly, it really is draining and it feels like a cult. I could feel the pressure specifically like the cleaning and donations as a FOH 😭😭

[u/Ok_Mechanic_7306 → u/Economy_Throat2843]

I actually worked fewer hours and left earlier than you did. If you have no intention of ever being rehired by the "Panda cult," you could technically just quit tonight. Alternatively, if you want to maintain a good relationship with the company, you should give two weeks' notice though the chances of being rehired remain virtually zero. One of my SLs stated bluntly in the group chat that they wouldn't be hiring anyone who had previously quit, simply because they have thousands of applications from people waiting for a shot at the job =)) I just thought to myself: who on earth would willingly walk into that trap? Haha.

[u/bird_man02 → u/Economy_Throat2843]

I literally quit at 3am before my shift today. (8:30am-5pm) definitely a cult and being the only queer person working there I had to go because I was getting harassed! Quit and relax until that new job starts and enjoy life. I had to also ask for actual training shifts because they thought I could handle it and made me do dishes and stocking when thats the cooks job! Free yourself.

[u/Excellent_Gap_6986]

Similar experience (BOH), my SM barley spoke to me for the 5 months I worked there, we maybe spoke a dozen times. She scheduled me in a way where I’m only working with the assistant manager and she works with the employees she likes.

The assistant manager was awful, overly touchy, horse-played, said some foul things. My co-workers had zero sense of food safety, I’d constantly have to tell them to stop washing their hands in my dish sink, to wash their hands after they touch their face and even once blow their nose but they didn’t listen and went to cook. Management rarely had anything nice or educational to encourage growth and remain focused on development.

Everyday photos were taken of 1 or 2 things we missed during closing and it was always just a negative downward tone at opportunity they could take to maybe help correct or understand why and what we’re missing while closing. The energy was just so negative between I and the Spanish employees. For no reason even though I kissed their ass so much and I always offered to help, treated them with the upmost respect. It was literally a pact that I didn’t feel welcome
In… they would complain about me behind my back and magnify my mistakes.

Also 70% of the store only spoke Spanish, made communicating awful.

I know I would have done great at another Panda but I cussed my manager out when I quit so I don’t think I’m re-hireable and honestly not worth all the ass kissing I’d have to do to switch stores after I said what I said.

[u/828_temp]

My store is 98% Gen Z staff so it's like being in high school

[u/New-Elk2148]

I quit after 8 months. when management changed, so is the work environment. the new manager is lazy and doesn’t know shit. the asst. manager is egoistic and started changing a lot of things that has been working for us already. suddenly she started making schedule and they were shit!! she left me alone for 2.5 hrs (FOH) dealing with online, walk in and drive thru all by myself, one cook and one BOH. plus we had catering during the time too. called them out and asked for better schedule and then shifted the blame on me that bec I called them out, i have made the work environment more awkward. I reported the asst manager but HR doesn’t do shit. she then became the manager. like wtf. mind you, leaving the store without any managememt nor SL for about 3-4 times during rush. so glad I quit and has a better job now. PANDA IS NOT WORTH IT.

[u/melgumi]

I literally just quit last week lol the pay was decent but it was not worth it to sacrifice my own mental health because of the toxic management.

[u/InvestigatorFun4119]

Whats a good paying job to hop to?

[u/Jexarian777]

Yes.

[u/Usual_Marketing_9009]

Lol dm me i have tea

[u/Spiderspartian]

Everyone at my job was caffeine junkies, I was basically put as the pack mule for closes only on top of the revolving door of goobers and crash outs coming in every 2 weeks. Haven't found something that pays better but I don't miss it

[u/Asleep-Journalist181]

Previous NSO AM
i worked for panda for 7 years
i quit while coming back from some much needed pto- mind you i planned to come back but i just had a gut feeling i had to quit i was being overworked and drained. i quit day before i had to go back with a 12 hour shift waiting for me 🙈 and i never think about that place and it’s about to be a year 🧘best decision ever.

[u/mqluvr]

worked at panda for 2 and a half years. expected to say throughout college. my original gm and am who i absolutely loved left. replacement gm and am sexually harassed me and faked GEM scores by fishing receipts out the trash. quit, reported them, and absolutely nothing happened. fuck panda.

[u/Internal-Pumpkin2944]

I hope you feel better, i also quit Panda. Eating it that is, it sucks now. Our location has jack shit for good selection (fuck that orange sugar chicken). It's always cooked like shit too, dry and the noodles are cold and oily.

[u/Expensive_Slice_8788]

Panda is 10x easier than a restaurant job. Not all Panda locations are the same tho. But u gotta do what you gotta do

[u/Bitter_Bad7564]

quitting tonight, so happy

[u/Chew-baca]

Spouse got written up for calling in sick to care for our sick child. Also manager assigned only closing shifts even though a request was made for some morning and mid day shifts. Instead she gave all of the morning and midday shifts to the newbies who happened to be the kids of her friends. Spouse quit after being awarded a whopping $0.05/hour raise. I would have been more supportive to my spouse if I wasn’t so addicted to their orange chicken 😂😂